Atticus drew his right hand back and immediately threw a punch at the air barrier. The impact was intense, as though he had punched a very sturdy wall.
'It's hard,' was all Atticus could think. Air was the freest element Atticus knew, and he found it hard to imagine how it could be made so sturdy.
"Well? Can you do it?"
Atticus flew back. The face of Aeolus, looking at him with an intense gaze, had suddenly appeared very close to the right side of his face.
'What the hell is with this creepy man?' Atticus felt his heart beating fast. This man had startled him more times today than he had been in a month.
He shook his head and made sure to create more distance between himself and Aeolus. He wanted to be careful. 'He might be a pedo,' Atticus thought seriously.
Aeolus had no idea what Atticus had just tagged him with and folded his arms on his chest once again, waiting.
Atticus decided to focus but still didn't let his guard down. He replayed every process he had seen Aeolus do earlier, his focus at its peak.
What Aeolus had done was simple. He compressed the air molecules into a dense, stable formation, creating a barrier that could block or deflect physical objects and other elements.
Atticus focused on compressing air molecules tightly in a specific area, maintaining the high-pressure zone to keep the barrier stable and strong.
He could immediately feel it; his barrier was completely underwhelming compared to Aeolus'. His was as hard as a rock, but Aeolus' was like steel in this situation.
Despite this huge difference, Aeolus was completely all smiles. 'What have they brought to me?'
The entirety of Atticus was an enigma that intrigued Aeolus thoroughly. He had eight elements, and his proficiency in them was this high? It was unbelievable on so many levels.
'He's perfect! I must get him to become my student!'
"Amazing! Do this next!"
Aeolus pointed his arms to his side, and instantly, the air around the area started dispersing until there was not a single air molecule in a small radius. Aeolus maintained this high-pressure zone, thereby creating a vacuum.
Atticus fixed his gaze on the point in the air, scrutinizing the ball of vacuum thoroughly.
'Interesting,'
Atticus was intrigued. He had never thought about using the air element this way, and even more, he was able to see the underlying reason why he was being asked to do this.
'It'll allow me to be more proficient in maintaining the air pressure.'
If his proficiency in this increased, Atticus would be able to not only create incredible gusts of wind but also increase his compression power, allowing him to make sturdier shields and more.
Replicating it had been straightforward, and Atticus formed a vacuum in front of him in seconds. This training required a bit of time to achieve, but considering Atticus's high proficiency, not that much time.
Atticus felt his proficiency increasing at a fast rate. When he felt it was okay, he hyped up the pace and created multiple vacuums in front of him.
Aeolus watched Atticus without his gaze leaving him for a single second. As time passed, watching Atticus, he could feel his excitement peaking.
His eyes shone as though he had seen a gem.
'He's perfect. He's perfect,'
This was the first time in generations that a genius of the air element had emerged in the family. While it was the same for most of the other elements, Aeolus didn't really give two thoughts about them.
Avalon had been for fire, Magnus for lightning. Magnus's father, the former paragon, had been of light. When would it be the air element's turn?!
Aeolus seemed to have forgotten that Atticus could control all eight elements combined, and air was just one of the elements he was proficient in.
Aeolus wanted to have him!
If Atticus could hear what was going on in Aeolus' head right now, he would turn and run without thinking. He had been right; the man was dangerous.
Soon enough, Aeolus stopped Atticus when he saw that he had already mastered this part; only time was needed to increase his proficiency further.
Afterward, Aeolus moved Atticus higher into the sky and continued his training.
The winds at this higher altitude were stronger and more unpredictable.
He practiced directing air currents and creating intricate wind patterns for various purposes.
By compressing air molecules in some areas and reducing pressure in others, he generated tornadoes, wind walls, and other complex formations.
He learned to control these powerful currents, his head spinning with the different offensive and defensive techniques he could use them for.
Atticus was also introduced to the advanced way of utilizing air. Instead of using mana, he could manipulate the air to carry sound over long distances.
Although he hadn't mastered it yet, he could separate breathable air from harmful gases and, in his mind, create harmful gases and use them for lethal purposes.
Another torture method was added to his inventory.
For the air element, it took exactly 10 hours, 5 hours less than what he spent in the water sanctum.
Aeolus begged and begged, even going so far as to get on his knees and hold Atticus's legs.
He didn't want Atticus to leave. Aeolus had finally found a genius of the air element; it would be foolish to let him go!
It was truly unfortunate that Atticus learned everything he knew in the span of 10 hours.
Aeolus had been extremely persistent and didn't want to give up.
It went without saying that Atticus had been thoroughly disturbed.
Seeing such an old man on his knees begging—a grandmaster rank, for that matter!—was something he would have never expected to see.
Atticus had found the man creepy before, but this was just too much. Eventually, he had to escape and leave the air sanctum by himself, the sight of Aeolus screaming his name with tears in his eyes making him shiver.
Soon enough, Atticus made his way to the sanctum he believed was the next one: the earth sanctum.